Poll finds Canadians willing to pretend they have an opinion about Governor General’s powers

Not to be rude to Duff Conacher (which might get me hauled before a human rights tribunal on charges of bullying), but the long-time ethics campaigner and Democracy Watch director is puishing credibility just a tad with his latest campaign.

According to a release from “the new national educational charity Your Canada, Your Constitution (YCYC)”, 65% of Canadians “want clear rules to regulate key decision-making powers of Governor General and provincial lieutenant governors, enforced by Supreme Court of Canada.”

Yup, that’s what it says. And it has a poll to prove it. (Hey, a poll. Can’t question the weightiness of one of those.)

“OTTAWA – Today, the new national educational charity Your Canada, Your Constitution (YCYC) released the results of its recent national survey of 2,030 Canadians on key questions concerning the decision-making powers of the Governor General and provincial lieutenant governors. The results show about two-thirds of Canadians want changes to how these powers are regulated, and who makes the decisions.

The YCYC survey, conducted by Harris/Decima from May 10th through May 20th, asked 2,030 Canadians ages 18 or older whether they wanted clear rules that would be enforced by the Supreme Court of Canada to regulate the powers of the Governor General and provincial lieutenant governors: to approve or reject laws passed by our elected politicians; to determine when elections are held; to chose Canada’s Prime Minister and the Premier of each province after an election, and; to determine when Parliament and provincial legislatures are opened and closed.

Canadians were also asked whether they wanted a new, elected position to replace the Governor General and provincial lieutenant governors as the decision-maker in these areas.

A total of 65% of Canadians want clear rules enforced by the Supreme Court of Canada to regulate these key decision-making powers, and 67% want a new, elected person to replace the Governor General and lieutenant governors.”

Oh come on. If 65% of Canadians can even name the Governor General (hint: it’s not Adrienne Clarkson), much less any of the lieutenant governors (and explain what the difference is) I’d be shocked. Frankly, I’m astounded the pollsters could even find 2,030 people willing to pretend they have the faintest understanding of the GG’s existing powers. As for wanting clear rules on those powers, let’s just step back and thinbk about that. Say your phone rings and it’s a pollster. The question is: “Do you think there should be clear rules about the powers of the Governor General?”

What are you going to say?: “No, I think there should be few rules and the Governor-General should be able to do anything he wants.” Don’t be silly. You don’t have to have a strong grounding in the division of powers to know you’re supposed to say yes. Canadians think there should be strong rules about everything, up to and including wearing a helmet while riding your bike.

Good try Duff, but it’s going to take more than a hoked-up poll to storm those ramparts at Rideau Hall.